Abstract: A system for interacting with food includes a rigid plate with a plurality of recessed regions formed in a body portion of the plate. The recessed regions are arranged to define a shape of an object such as a vehicle or animal for appealing to a young child. One or more of the recessed regions may include a nesting region having a shape substantially matching the shape of a head portion of a utensil for use with the plate. The recessed regions may also include a dock portion that mates with and elevates a head portion of an associated utensil above the lower surface of the recessed region. The body portion may include a retention feature that mates with and retains and handle portion of the utensil. Transition regions between the walls and the lower surfaces of recessed regions may match the shape of the head of the utensil.

Abstract: A utensil configured to interact with food items includes a main body portion, a handle portion extending in a first direction from the main body portion, and a food manipulating portion extending from the main body portion in a second direction, wherein the food manipulating portion of the utensil is configured to interact with food. The utensil may also include a plurality of legs extending from the main body portion in a third direction to support the utensil on a support surface. The plurality of legs elevate the handle portion, main body portion and food manipulating portion from the support surface such that the handle portion, main body portion, and food manipulating portion are not in contact with the support surface when the utensil is placed on the support surface with the legs supporting the utensil from the support surface.

Abstract: A utensil configured to interact with food items includes a main body portion, a handle portion extending in a first direction from the main body portion, and a food manipulating portion extending from the main body portion in a second direction, wherein the food manipulating portion of the utensil is configured to interact with food. The utensil may also include a plurality of legs extending from the main body portion in a third direction to support the utensil on a support surface. The plurality of legs elevate the handle portion, main body portion and food manipulating portion from the support surface such that the handle portion, main body portion, and food manipulating portion are not in contact with the support surface when the utensil is placed on the support surface with the legs supporting the utensil from the support surface.

Abstract: A utensil configured to interact with food items includes a main body portion, a handle portion extending in a first direction from the main body portion, and a food manipulating portion extending from the main body portion in a second direction, wherein the food manipulating portion of the utensil is configured to interact with food. The utensil may also include a plurality of legs extending from the main body portion in a third direction to support the utensil on a support surface. The plurality of legs elevate the handle portion, main body portion and food manipulating portion from the support surface such that the handle portion, main body portion, and food manipulating portion are not in contact with the support surface when the utensil is placed on the support surface with the legs supporting the utensil from the support surface.

Abstract: A utensil configured to interact with food items includes a main body portion, a handle portion extending in a first direction from the main body portion, and a food manipulating portion extending from the main body portion in a second direction, wherein the food manipulating portion of the utensil is configured to interact with food. The utensil may also include a plurality of legs extending from the main body portion in a third direction to support the utensil on a support surface. The plurality of legs elevate the handle portion, main body portion and food manipulating portion from the support surface such that the handle portion, main body portion, and food manipulating portion are not in contact with the support surface when the utensil is placed on the support surface with the legs supporting the utensil from the support surface.

Abstract: A vessel includes a first side and a second side, wherein at least a portion of the vessel is at least partially transparent. A plurality of brackets is coupled to the second side of the vessel. The plurality of brackets is configured to detachably retain a support base to the vessel. The support base is configured to retain an image between the support base and the second side of the vessel for allowing the image to be viewed though the portion of the vessel that is at least partially transparent. Each of the plurality of brackets has a lip portion made of a flexible material and configured to removeably retain the support base.

Abstract: A vessel includes a first side and a second side, wherein at least a portion of the vessel is at least partially transparent. A plurality of brackets is coupled to the second side of the vessel. The plurality of brackets is configured to detachably retain a support base to the vessel. The support base is configured to retain an image between the support base and the second side of the vessel for allowing the image to be viewed though the portion of the vessel that is at least partially transparent. Each of the plurality of brackets has a lip portion made of a flexible material and configured to removeably retain the support base.

Abstract: A vessel assembly for displaying an image includes a vessel having a first side and a second side. At least a portion of the vessel is at least partially transparent. A plurality of brackets are coupled to the second side of the vessel. The plurality of brackets are configured to stabilize the vessel on a surface. A plurality of brackets are configured to detachably return a support base to the vessel. The support base is configured to retain an image between the support base and the second side of the vessel to allow the image to be viewed through the portion of the vessel that is at least partially transparent.

Abstract: A vessel assembly for displaying an image includes a vessel having a first side and a second side. At least a portion of the vessel is at least partially transparent. A plurality of brackets are coupled to the second side of the vessel. The plurality of brackets are configured to stabilize the vessel on a surface. A plurality of brackets are configured to detachably return a support base to the vessel. The support base is configured to retain an image between the support base and the second side of the vessel to allow the image to be viewed through the portion of the vessel that is at least partially transparent.

Abstract: A food serving plate with features that cooperatively interact with utensils to provide fun assistance to children with their effort to load food onto their utensils. The features on the plate include either or both of: a vertically slotted ramp that accepts the tines of an eating utensil, such as a fork, which allows a person to load food onto the utensil by pushing the food up the ramp and then sliding the utensil under the food when it has reached sufficient height; and a ramp with a nested depression that accepts the leading perimeter contours of a utensil with a food-receiving bowl, such as a spoon, which allows a person to load food onto the utensil by positioning the utensil within the nested depression and by pushing the food up the ramp and over the nested depression with a second utensil with a blunt profile, such as a pusher.

Abstract: A container system foldable into a placemat includes a front panel, a back panel, a center panel, and a border panel. The front, back, and border panels each include an inner edge and an outer edge. The center panel includes three inner edges and an outer edge. The center panel is foldably connected to the front, back, and border panels, such that a first inner edge of the center panel is adjacent to an inner edge of the front panel, a second inner edge of the center panel is adjacent to an inner edge of the back panel, and a third inner edge of the center panel is adjacent to an inner edge of the border panel. An attachment mechanism extends along the outer edges of the center, front, back, and border panels. The attachment mechanism allows closure of the container system to define the substantially enclosed interior space.

Abstract: A food serving plate with features that cooperatively interact with utensils to provide fun assistance to children with their effort to load food onto their utensils. The features on the plate include either or both of: a vertically slotted ramp that accepts the tines of an eating utensil, such as a fork, which allows a person to load food onto the utensil by pushing the food up the ramp and then sliding the utensil under the food when it has reached sufficient height; and a ramp with a nested depression that accepts the leading perimeter contours of a utensil with a food-receiving bowl, such as a spoon, which allows a person to load food onto the utensil by positioning the utensil within the nested depression and by pushing the food up the ramp and over the nested depression with a second utensil with a blunt profile, such as a pusher.